Inmate Accused Of Beating Death

Associated Press - July 31, 2015 6:53 am

A Kansas inmate who is accused of nearly beating a fellow prisoner to death last year makes his first court appearance on the charges.

31-year-old Juan Garza appeared Thursday on charges of aggravated battery or in the alternate attempted capital murder. He’s also charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated battery or in the alternate conspiracy to commit attempted capital murder.

A count in the alternative means a jury can convict Garza of one or the other count, but not both.

He is accused in the June 12, 2014, beating of Miguel Garcia inside Hutchinson Correctional Facility. Assistant Reno County prosecutor Andrew Davidson says Garza and 22-year-old Jerrod Green “beat up the guy real bad” in prison.